The Hindu : 'Autonomy rules for colleges outdated'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 19, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

'Autonomy rules for colleges outdated'

By K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI Jan. 17. A remark made by the Health and Education Minister, S. Semmalai, last week that the Government could not sit idle to the ``abuse of autonomy by certain colleges'' has puzzled private managements, especially those seeking more autonomy.

They see the statement as an explanation for the delay in dealing with the applications for grant of autonomy to more colleges, if it means following the same model. About a dozen colleges are waiting for approval. Only after the clearance can the colleges pursue the issue with the respective affiliating universities and the University Grants Commission.

At a conference organised here by private colleges, the Minister had stated that autonomy should not merely mean ``restructuring'' of some existing courses, as it did not meet the social and national requirements. Autonomy did not mean mere diversification of courses. Instead, the autonomous colleges should play a positive role in seeking solution to major social problems related to environment and sustainable development.

College managements note that veteran educationists like V.C. Kulandaiswamy and the UGC Chairman, Arun Nigavekar, both of whom participated in the conference, called for a stop to the affiliation system. Tamil Nadu alone accounted for 50 autonomous colleges and had 62 accredited institutions. Unlike in the affiliating system, an autonomous system can help a college bring in changes to the curriculum or syllabus faster and could increase the number of add on courses offered in a degree or PG course.

In the affiliating system, a student of a university will find it difficult to join another university to continue the same degree programme, by transfer of his or her credits. Speakers at the conference, some of them vice-chancellors and senior administrators of autonomous colleges felt that any preparation for a global level competition in higher education would be unthinkable with such rigidities.

Mr. Nigavekar went to the extent of suggesting that the UGC wanted to declare certain deserving autonomous colleges as ``degree conferring institutions'', so that they were accountable for their functioning and standards.

Leaders of the Association of Managements of Private Colleges and Indian Colleges Forum, hope that the Government would reconsider its view. ``We agree that mere revision of some courses is not enough. But there is a definite need to come out of the rigid and highly compartmentalised system in higher education,'' says a college secretary.

Dr. Kulandaiswamy says the present procedure was outdated, as it was evolved before the accreditation system came into existence. The requirements for autonomy must be academic and the question of no objection certificate from the Government was an ``unacademic and an unwanted requirement''. He felt that any college with a four star accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council should be eligible for autonomy. If their application for NoC did not get a reply within a particular period, then it should be deemed that the Government indeed had no objection.

In this situation, the Minister's remarks may have surprised the AMPC members, but they also hope the Government would see for itself the advantages of the autonomous system for mere survival of the local higher education system, in the face of emerging globalisation of this sector. ``Even government colleges would face serious threat, if they are not clever enough to seek autonomy and relax stifling rules in delivering courses,'' a city college chairman said.

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